Court in Pamplona Orders Detention Without Bail for Man Accused of Killing Wife in Sarriguren

A court in Pamplona, Navarre, decided on Monday to order pre-trial detention without the possibility of bail for a man accused of brutally murdering his 28-year-old wife. The incident occurred on Friday in the town of Sarriguren. According to the charges, the man attacked his spouse with a large knife, inflicting at least 34 stab wounds in the apartment they shared.

The fight against domestic violence and so-called machista violence (violencia machista) has been a priority in Spain for years. Following high-profile cases, such as the murder of Ana Orantes in 1997, which changed the perception of this problem in society, the country introduced comprehensive legislation, including the 2004 Organic Law on Integrated Protection Measures against Gender Violence. Navarre, as an autonomous community, also has its own legal instruments and support programs for victims. The regional parliament of Navarre reacted to the crime by adopting a resolution on Monday, unanimously or by majority, which expresses utmost outrage and deep indignation at this machista crime. The court's decision for pre-trial detention without bail indicates that investigators consider the evidence against the suspect to be very strong, and the risk of flight or interference with the investigation to be high. In addition to the murder charge, the man is also to be charged with assaulting his mother, who is the victim's mother-in-law. The attack on the elderly woman occurred during the same dramatic scene. The motives of the perpetrator and details of his statements to the court are not currently known. The case will now be handled by the Spanish justice system under an expedited procedure, often used for gender-based violence.